Hidden Door Festival: help bring Leith Theatre back to life!

£21,192

600

Massive thanks for all your support! We've smashed our original target and reached the stretch goal! With only hours left can we get to 20K?

The more money we raise, the more we can do for the amazing Leith Theatre! It's been derelict for 28 years and we believe it’s time to build a new future for this amazing venue.

With a little bit of extra funding we will be able to pull off a spectacular Events Programme, which will include workshops, interactive events, panel discussions talks and Q & A’s from artists, theatre companies and film contributors. In conjunction with this, we will organise tours for local schools and community groups to encourage and promote audience inclusivity and develop the opportunity for engagement with creative activities in the local area.

The Events Programme seeks to leave a lasting imprint on the community by opening up discussion about the future of the theatre through talks and panel discussions and also engage local schools and community groups, allowing younger folk to be able to participate, be exposed to, and partake in, important conversations and ideas about regeneration, public ownership of space and the importance of buildings such as Leith Theatre in the community.

Extra funding would allow us to host exciting discussion panels featuring invited speakers from a multitude of professional backgrounds, that will focus on debating and discussing the importance of the ever changing cultural landscape in Leith, Scotland and further afield including raising notions of what the future holds for the Old Leith Theatre itself.

Moreover, if enough funds are raised it would be feasible for our series of panel discussions to be recorded, edited and presented online as a means to promote exposure and help raise awareness of important topics discussed.

Hidden Door Festival 2017

Hidden Door is a non-profit, 100% volunteer-run multi arts festival transforming incredible, abandoned Edinburgh spaces. This year we are helping to restore Leith Theatre, a stunning but derelict theatre that has been standing empty for nearly 30 years.

Left decaying and forgotten since 1988, Hidden Door's 10-day festival of music, theatre, visual art, film and spoken word, will provide the initial spark to get this beautiful Art Deco gem back up and running as the major arts venue Edinburgh desperately needs.

After decades of neglect, there is a huge amount of work needing to be done to the venue to get it ready for the festival. But Hidden Door has never shied away from a challenging site, and this one is truly inspirational.

Edinburgh is renowned for its festivals, but the city suffers from a surprising lack of arts and music venues for local and visiting artists and creatives. We want to bring this grand old theatre back to life and transform it into the incredible venue it should be for the community in Leith and Edinburgh.

Leith Theatre has a glorious past and now with your help Hidden Door will give people the chance to glimpse what the future of this spectacular theatre could be. We have a full programme of music, theatre, cinema and spoken word, as well as some of the best drinks and street food available – visit our website to find out more.

Scroll down to see the list of our rewards! Many of these include tickets to our festival which runs from 26th May to 4th June. If you’re unable to attend or already got your tickets, don’t despair – we have some great perks available for you as well.

Risks and challenges

Organising a volunteer-run 10-day festival in a derelict theatre is a massive challenge. But it is an inspirational one that we embrace wholeheartedly. We have total confidence we can help restore this spectacular venue to its former glory and rightful status as a vibrant arts and music hub for the community in Leith and Edinburgh.

This is not the first time we have undertaken such a challenge; we have a proven track record of transforming disused buildings in Edinburgh. Hidden Door started in 2014 when we staged a festival in a row of derelict Victorian vaults, showing the city how abandoned urban spaces could be opened up as a platform to support new and emerging artists, musicians, theatre makers, film makers and poets. Two years later, following huge investment, those once derelict vaults have been transformed into a retail and leisure hub, featuring dozens of independent shops, cafes and restaurants. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/thearchesedinburgh/

In 2015 and 2016, we turned an unused old council lighting depot and secret courtyard into a vibrant home for a festival of visual art, music, theatre, dance and cinema. All these experiences of breathing new life into neglected spaces has helped us understand and learn how to overcome the huge amount of challenges involved.

As we are 100% volunteer run and not-for-profit, we are driven by an inspirational spirit of passion, goodwill and genuine belief that if we all work together, anything is possible.

This year, we have our biggest ever team of volunteers helping us and we are working on engaging the local community to support the project. We've also established a great connection with the Leith Theatre Trust, the organisation that has recently been granted a lease for the building and wants to get it up and running as a functioning arts venue for the city.

There is virtually nothing in the theatre at the moment. We are under no illusions that there is a huge amount of work needing done to the venue. At a basic level, we must first tidy up the venue after years of neglect and make it safe. To do this, we have comprehensive risk assessments and health and safety plans in place. In addition, all equipment and infrastructure needs to be hired or built from scratch, including lighting, sound, projectors, toilets and bars.

This is a huge challenge but one we are experienced and equipped to overcome - we passionately believe we can help restore this beautiful venue.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £50 or more
About $62

SHARE THE LOVE

All the above, only this time you'll be rewarded with a pair of tickets to any night of the Festival so you can bring a friend along (or if you're unable to make it, you can choose for us to reallocate them to a local charity)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £75 or more
About $94

T TIME - TICKETS, TOUR, TOTE & THANKS

Now we're talking... not only will you get all of the above, you'll also be given a personal tour of the Festival and Leith Theatre, along with one of our lovely tote bags. Not forgetting a signed 'thank you' card from all of us at Hidden Door too!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £100 or more
About $125

A TON OF FUN

Pledge a 'ton' or more and we will fill your boots with Hidden Door delights - that means all of the above, plus we'll thank you for your support by including you as a Friend on the Festival website, send you a copy of the Festival programme AND give you 2 tickets to the launch party for next year's Festival!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £150 or more
About $187

THE COLLECTOR'S ITEM

Calling all art fans, this one's a bit special - to celebrate the art of giving support to the restoration of Leith Theatre, you will become the proud owner of a limited edition framed print from a Hidden Door visual artist.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £200 or more
About $249

THE PROUD PATRON PACKAGE

Take it the next level and feel the pride of becoming a fully-fledged Patron of the Hidden Door Festival. The package also includes 4 tickets to any night of the Festival, 4 food vouchers and the exclusive opportunity to our 'Meet The Artists' event

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £300 or more
About $374

GET DOWN TO BUSINESS - SPONSORS SPECIAL

Can your company support the restoration of Leith Theatre? This Sponsorship Special is for you. Your support will be shouted from the rooftops on our Twitter and website, plus you'll get 2 tickets to the VIP Opening Night on Friday 26th May, not to mention 4 tickets to any night, 4 food vouchers AND an invite to next year's Launch Party